Denver, Colo. – Seniors Jack Flynn and Trey Lervick registered a hat trick apiece to lead the Falcons to an 11-8 victory over Cleveland State, Saturday afternoon at Peter Barton Stadium in the first day of the University of Denver Face Off Classic. Air Force improves to 2-1 on the season while the Vikings drop to 1-3. Cleveland State was the first to strike at the 13:29 mark but Air Force junior attack man Matthew Schwartz responded with an unassisted goal two minutes later to knot the game at one. The Falcons and Vikings went back-and-forth in scoring in the quarter with Flynn scoring two straight to close the quarter at 3-2 in favor of Air Force. Schwartz and Matthew O'Rourk were credited with an assist apiece in Flynn's attack. The Vikings struck first in the second quarter but in doing so, ignited a fierce Air Force response as the Falcons rattled off four straight goals highlighted by Lervick's two-straight goals in the span of 75 seconds. Christian Kuhn assisted Lervick's first goal then added one of his own at 10:46 to extend the Falcons' lead, 6-3. Cole Grindberg, one of Air Force's up-and-coming freshmen, followed up with a ripper for the Falcons' seventh goal at the 7:13 mark. The Vikings ended the hot streak with a goal in a man-up situation. A second Kuhn-to-Lervick connection yielded the senior attack man's hat trick goal with 58-seconds remaining in the half, giving the Falcons an 8-4 lead heading into the halftime break. Lervick has had a hat trick in two-straight games now. The first nine minutes of the second half was a stalemate until Cleveland State put two-straight goals away to bring the Vikings within two. Flynn, the squad's elected captain, took the wind out of the Vikings' sails with his hat trick goal via Schwartz's assist at the 3:59 mark, closing the quarter with a 10-6 lead. The Falcons got right back to business early in the fourth quarter as Schwartz found Blake Gillund open for an opportunity on frame and a finish. Schwartz closed the game with three assists and a goal. Cleveland State attempted to rally, netting two-straight goals in three minutes, but was thwarted by a stout Air Force defense. Lervick put the finishing touches on his highlight as he returned the favor to O'Rourk, assisting the sophomore in putting the final dagger into the Vikings with a goal at the 2:11 mark. The Falcons dominated the final stat sheet, taking 37 (22) shots to the Vikings' 25 (14), led by Lervick's seven shots. Face off specialist Trent Harper laid claim to face off X, winning 16-of-22 (.727) attempts. Brandon Jones and Griffin Peene led the defense with two caused turnovers apiece, while Jones led the game with seven ground balls. Sophomore keeper Braden Host recorded six saves in his second win of the season. Air Force will take a brief rest before returning to the turf to host Utah in its second game of the Face-Off Classic, 12 p.m. MT on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Cadet Lacrosse Stadium, located just west of the Holaday Athletic Center in the Air Force Athletics Fields. The 2019 season marks Utah's inaugural campaign as a Div. I lacrosse program. The Utes will play the University of Denver, Feb. 23.